No Place for Mourning: Understanding Suffering in the Context of Faith
"The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth." - Psalms 79:2
Psalm 79 is a poignant reflection on suffering and devastation. The verse, "The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth" (Psalm 79:2, KJV), captures the deep anguish experienced by the psalmist as he witnesses the desecration of God’s people. This imagery is powerful and unsettling, yet it speaks volumes about the trials we endure, the sanctity of life, and the importance of hope in God amidst despair.
As we peel back the layers of this verse, we find ourselves confronted by a stark reality. The psalmist laments the treatment of God's servants—those who have dedicated their lives to Him and have been met with brutality. This reminder of the fragility of life can seem overwhelming, especially as we reflect on our circumstances. In many ways, it’s easy to doubt when we see chaos around us. We might even feel abandoned in our struggles, as if the heavens are deaf to our cries, and our faith seems futile.
The vivid imagery of corpses becoming the food of birds and beasts reflects not only the horror of defeat but also an inevitable cycle of life and death. In ancient cultures, to die in battle was already a tragic fate, but to be disrespected in death added a layer of humiliation and sorrow. For many, it is a deep wound, questioning not only God’s providence but also His justice. Why do the righteous suffer? Why do the faithful meet such grim ends? These questions echo through the generations and remain relevant today.
Yet, amidst such sorrow, this passage calls us to examine our relationship with God during times of suffering. The psalmist does not stay in a place of despair; instead, he turns his lament into a prayer. He is reaching out to God, acknowledging the pain while also seeking restoration. This act of turning towards God, even when life feels incomprehensible, is a call to faith amid fear. We too are encouraged to bring our heartaches and doubts to God, to invite Him into our struggles, and to find solace in His presence.
In our own lives, we may face moments where we feel overwhelmed by loss—loss of loved ones, loss of dreams, or moral and spiritual losses in a world that seems bent on destruction. It’s in these moments that we are challenged to remember who God is. He is not a distant observer but a compassionate Father who sees our pain and grieves alongside us. The narrative of scripture is a testament to His unfailing love for His creation, even in the bleakest of circumstances.
The psalmist’s lament is an invitation for us to engage deeply with our faith, to express our sorrow, and to seek God’s face amid despair. It challenges us to find our voices when all seems lost and to remember the hope that lies in the promises of God. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18, KJV).
Ultimately, the imagery in Psalm 79:2 can be a call not for despair, but for action. It calls us to stand firm in our faith, to support one another in our trials, and to keep the hope of resurrection close to our hearts. Even when faced with death—the ultimate foe—there remains a powerful promise: that our God is sovereign over all. His plans transcend our understanding, and the suffering endured today will somehow lead to a greater glory that God has in store for those who endure. Let us choose to remain steadfast in the face of trials and trust in His goodness, even when the world around us appears to crumble.
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"The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth." - Psalms 79:2
Psalms 79:7 - "For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place."
Psalms 79:3 - "Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them."
Psalms 79:4 - "We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us."
Psalms 119:79 - "Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies."
Psalms 79:5 - "How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?"
Psalms 79:12 - "And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord."
"Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies." - Psalms 119:79
Psalms 79:11 - "Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;"
Psalms 79:1 - "O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps."
"How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?" - Psalms 79:5
Psalms 79:6 - "Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name."
"And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord." - Psalms 79:12
Psalms 79:8 - "O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low."
"For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place." - Psalms 79:7
Psalms 79:13 - "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations."
Psalms 79:10 - "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed."
"Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name." - Psalms 79:6
"O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low." - Psalms 79:8
"Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." - Psalms 79:9
"We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us." - Psalms 79:4
"Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them." - Psalms 79:3
Psalms 81:2 - "Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery."
"Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;" - Psalms 79:11
"O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps." - Psalms 79:1
"So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations." - Psalms 79:13
"Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed." - Psalms 79:10
Psalms 64:2 - "Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:"
Psalms 115:2 - "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?"
"Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery." - Psalms 81:2